As a former race director of Weston 5K, we have had a no headphone, no dog policy for several years, however this is the first year that we have actively enforced the no headphone rule. We do allow strollers if they start at the back. There are several reasons for enforcing it this year. We are a high school event and as such wish to set an example for the kids. As the mother of 3 college students, I know these IPODs are blasting and not on a setting that you or I might find reasonable, but loud enough to block the noise of an approaching car, another runner or pedestrian. Additionally, last week on the University of North Carolina Campus, a runner was struck and killed by a bus when she turned into its path- she was wearing headphones and obviously was oblivious to it approaching. And, it is a USATF rule and Weston is a USATF certified course. We tried to be sensitive to users and posted "the universal sign" as well as text posters that said, "If you wear headphones, you will be disqualified". We also placed posters on day of registration table and announced it several times during pre- race announcements. Runners were offered the opportunity to hand in headphones for safekeeping at the start. Out on the course a race official yelled at runners to remove headphones, but guess what- they could see he was yelling at them, but hadn't a clue what he said. To try to be fair to everyone, we removed runners from prize/place contention, but posted their times on a separate list. It is my belief that in the future times should not even be recorded and I hope to see other race directors follow suit. I think once, people understand that we are trying to make it more enjoyable and safe for everyone, not just trying to be difficult, then they will comply because if our insurance coverage comes into question, then road races will be a thing of the past. We do not have the luxury of closing our roads to traffic for the duration of the race, so with the help of police and volunteers and the co-operation of the runners, everyone can enjoy the racing experience.